November

Blog Posts in November, 2008

With the curtailment in use of estrogen to treat menopausal symptoms, including night sweats, symptoms of insomnia increase. While not always associated by patients, complaints of lack of energy, difficulty concentrating and problem solving, or even mood changes such as irritability, and depression may be consequences of poor sleep quality. If restless sleep or these symptoms persist beyond a ...

With leftover Halloween candy lingering in our homes and turkey preparation for Thanksgiving only a few weeks away reminds us that flu season will also arrive shortly. The CDC advises all pregnant women–regardless of stage of pregnancy–receive a flu vaccination. While pregnant women do not experience an increase in the rate of serious medical complications from the flu, they are ...

In the United States, over 600,000 women undergo a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) each year, and the majority are performed through a large abdominal incision. Ironically, the inverse is the practice in most European countries where vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomies predominate. According to multiple medical studies, these less invasive routes not only lessen risk and expedite a ...

What would you do if you unexpectedly became pregnant? Unplanned pregnancies occur surprisingly frequently, and it does not happen to just teenagers. Besides denial, misconceptions contribute to this naiveté. For instance, many women frequently believe they can’t get pregnant if their partner uses condoms or she’s on the pill. Yet the risk of unintended pregnancy is much higher ...

Human Papillomavirus (HPV), is the cause of most cervical cancer. It’s been 2 years since the FDA approved Gardasil® as the first HPV vaccine, which is effective at preventing approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases. It also prevents about 90% of genital warts. Approximately 80% of American adults contract HPV at some point in their lifetime. Most people will clear this infection ...

With increased use of medical imaging 70% of women will have uterine fibroids detected. These benign tumors grow in the muscular wall of the uterus. They are more common during the 3rd an 4th decades of life. Most fibroids do not cause problems so watchful waiting is appropriate. When symptoms occur such as heavy menstrual bleeding, painful cramps, urinary frequency, pelvic pain or pressure that ...

According to the latest data from the National Center for Health Statistics babies born prematurely has risen to more than 12.5%, the highest level in two decades, and a more than 30% increase since 1981. In 2004, more than half a million babies were born prematurely in the United States. Babies born prematurely have less developed organs than full-term babies and are more likely to face serious ...

The incidence and death rates from cervical cancer in the United States have dropped almost 50% since the widespread use of PAP smears began in the early 1970’s. However, cervical cancer still remains the third most common gynecologic cancer in the USA. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) recently released new recommendations for cervical cancer screening that ...

For women seeking reversible contraception and interested in putting their period on hold, the FDA recently approved Lybrel® as the first combination oral contraceptive taken 365 days a year. The safety profile of this non-cyclic oral contraceptive was reported as similar to that of a traditional, cyclic oral contraceptive. Effectiveness is at least equal and perhaps slightly better. A ...

Month-after-month there are many women who endure heavy periods. According to the World Health Organization, there is a 30% chance you’ll have to tolerate this recurring affliction during your lifetime. Women often acquiesce, accepting a gradual increase in the amount and duration of their menstrual flow. Unfortunately, they falsely assume this is a normal part of aging. Iron deficiency ...

Creative use of contraceptive technology has helped us manage a number of gynecologic as well as non-reproductive illnesses. This so called “off label” use often requires “outside the box” creative thinking. This is common in the practice of medicine as we realize benefits other than contraception for which these prescriptions were initially intended. The “morning ...